Throw Pillows 101 – The Do’s and Don’ts
Throw pillows are everything! Okay, I’ll admit it… throw pillows are not an essential item in our homes. Some even say they’re not necessary, but I beg to differ. Throw pillows can absolutely help change the look of a room. They can add texture, color, prints and patterns to your space and even take attention away from that piece of furniture that you’re not ready to replace yet. Throw pillows are front and center in most spaces and here’s a few tips on how you can make sure your pillows don’t fall flat.
DO:
Buy pillow covers or fabric that will add color, texture, print, plaid or patterns to your sofa. This allows you to add personality to your space that’s uniquely yours.
DON'T:
Refrain from using the pillows that came with your couch on the couch. They’re too matchy-matchy and don’t usually add much personality. However, you can use those pillows on a chair (since most chairs are in a different fabric than the sofa) to create a cohesive look. You can also use a pillow cover to create a new look in another room.
DO:
Invest in good pillow inserts such as a 50/50 blend of feathers and down, but if you’ve got allergies or prefer not to have anything from an animal, I highly recommend a down alternative fill.
DON'T:
Whatever you do, don’t by foam inserts. They tend to go flat and become shapeless. This ends up making your throw pillows look cheap.
DO:
Buy pillow covers that have full sized zippers. This will allow you to accommodate the larger sized inserts and it will also allow you to easily change your pillow covers and reuse the inserts.
DON'T:
Try not to flatten your inserts once you’ve fluffed them. You don’t want them to lose the shape or get lumpy when it’s time to use them again.
DO:
For that overstuffed look, always buy an insert that is 2-4 inches larger than the cover. For example, if you have a 20x20 pillow, purchase a 22x22 or 24x24 insert.
DON'T:
Avoid keeping the insert that came with the pillow your purchased. They’re never full enough and are almost always too flat, unless you’ve purchased a high-end pillow. Those are typically sold with the upgraded inserts.
DO:
Go big! Bigger is better when it comes to throw pillows. In fact, 20x20 is as small as you should go on a sofa. To achieve a designer look, try mixing the sizes of your pillows. A great combination of pillows is 22x22, 20x20 and a 10x20 on one side of your sofa and a 20x20 and 18x18 on the other side. Mixing fabrics, textures and prints, stripes, etc. is best.
DON'T:
Try not to use a bunch of small pillows on your sofa. It looks messy, lacks in visual interest and has that off-the-shelf look.
By now, I’m sure you can see why I think throw pillows really are everything! I hope you can agree that throw pillows have the potential to completely change the look of your space. They can help pull your room together and shouldn’t be an afterthought. If you’re still unsure how to get the perfect throw pillow vibe in your home, Coastal Design by Kim is just a phone call away. Contact us today at (850) 904-6622 to schedule an appointment.